Amusement apparatus.



F. l. RIORDAN.

MUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPumoN man oc. 14. 1914.

i I 1,144,613, Y Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:Iorw

vran

FREDERICK J'. RIORDAIT, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNGR 0F 0NE-BALF TG LAWRENCE SUGDEN, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IIIUSEMENT APARATUS.

Speciicaticn of Letters Patent.

Eatented Jane 2i?, Mila.

Application lled October 14, 1914. Serial Nc. 585,626.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that l, FREDERICK J. Rion- DAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have inv movable objects in the form of miniature automobiles, and independently operable mechanisms for said objects whereby they may be caused to traverse a race course.`

Each object and its operating mechanism is operated manually, and a plurality of persons each operating one of the units may cause the objects to engage in a speed contest.

Of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure l represents a Vertical section from front to rear through the apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a section 'through the structure indicated by line Fig. 3 represents a top plan:

-2 of Fig. i. View, on a 4larger sealant` the two racing objects,vthe latter being indicated somewhatconventionally. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a modiiication comprising means operable by a single coin for tripping a plurality' of clutch devices to connect a plurality of racing objects with their respective operating members. p of the mechanism shown by Fig. 4. Fig. 6

represents a horizontal section of lthe mech-l anism shown by Fig. 2, the plane of the section being between the racing surface and the operating mechanism. Fig. represents a top plan View ofl disconnectible clutch mechanism by which motion is transmitted from one of the operating members tothe corresponding racing object. Fig. 8 represents a front elevation of the mechanism'shown by Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents an end elevation of the coin-operated mechanism included in Figs. 7 and 8.

The same reference characters indicate the Asame parts wherever they occur.

The apparatus as shown includes two racing objects in the form of automobiles, the

' sprocket wheel 2P, and chain 2 'D Fig. 5 is a detail same being indicated at A, B. They are arranged to travel upon a raceway l5. 1s carried along the raceway by an endless chain 20a, and B isl carried by an endless chain 201. Chain 20a is driven by'a toothed is driven by a similar sprocket Wheel 2lb. Chain 20* coacts with an idle wheel 2:2-1 which has a groove in its periphery to receive the chain. Chain 20" ccacts with an idle wheel 22h Which'also has a groove in its periphery to receive the chain. As indicated by Fig. the course which is defined by the chains i substantially elliptic, and the raceway l5 i therefore provided with an elliptic slot i6- througli which connection is madexbetween the two objects A, B and their respective chains. The form of connection for this purpose is shown by Figs. l and 3. 1A bar 23a is Vatlixed to one ofi? the links olchain 20 and extends upwardly through the slot 1G, and to it is-al'liXed the front axle 24B of A. A bar 23 is affixed to one of the links of chain 20 and extends upwardly through the slot 1G, and to it is ailixed the front axle La" of B. The body of A is pivotally connected by a kingbolt 25a to the belster'drin which the front axle 24a is jcurnaled; and in like manner the body of B ispirotally connected by a kingbolt 255 to the bolster 26h in which the front axle 24h is journaled. ln consequence of ythis forni of connection the front axles of and B are caused to turn to the required angle in rounding the ends of the racecourse, and

are'caused to be parallel to the rear axles' mounted'on said shaft. Eacliuidle Wheel isl thus free'to rotate at aspeed independentof the speed or the shaft upon which it is mounted, to 'the end that the speeds 'of A and B shall be entirely independent ci' each other.

An operating member for A. is indirate at QS in Fig. G, and an operati g for B is indicated at 28 in .i l and 5.

These operating members are in the torni The drive wheel 2lb is aixed f of cranks and are aiiixed respectively to from the tWo operating members to their re- I spective objects A and B are alike -in all details, anda description of such mechanism for one of the units will be suflicient.' The transmitting mechanism for A is shown in detail by Figs. 7, 8 and 4. Shaft 271 is provided With a 'worm gear 31 which coacts with a Worm 32. The worm is carried by a sleeve 33 which is. loosely mounted upon shaft Sleeve constitutes one member of a disconnectible toothed clutch, being provided with teeth 34. The other member of the clutch is indicated at 35 and is arranged to slide longitudinally upon the shaft 30, being connected to the shaft by a spline 36. Sleeve 33 is provided' with a ratchet wheel 37 which is engaged by a pawl 38 whose function is to prevent rotation in one direction. For this reason the clutch teeth a re made in the Jorln of ratchet teeth s0 that clutch member 35 will automatically 'y .back olf from the sleeve 33 Whenever the operating shaft is rotated in the Wrong direction, and such rotation Iwill not be imparted to the sleeve 33.l

The clutch member 35 is, otherwise disengaged from the sleeve 33 by mechanism which acts automatically when the 'racing object driven thereby has reached a prede? terniined point or traversed a predetermined distance.. It may be here stated thataccordil'lg to the proportions illustrated three complete rotations of `cach sprocket wheel are required to cause one complete cycle of the corresponding chain, and the aboVe-n'ientioned mechanism which automatically disconnects the clutch acts only when the corresponding chainfor racing object has traversed the racecourse three times. It wil-l be understood, however, that these proportions may be varied without departingfr'om the spirit of theinvention. lt will also be understood that the course traversed by the racing objects may be circular, straight, or any other shape.

'.l'he sliding clutch member 35 is grooved to roact with ia yoke or shipper 39.l Said shipper is atlixed to a Vrockshaft 40 which is provided with a weighted arm 41 who^e function is to hold the clutch member 35 normally in coactive engagement with the teeth of sleeve As shown by Fig. 7, the elu.v i member 35 is retracted, and the weightedl arm 4l is lifted `tvo the position indicated' by solid lines in Fig, 9. For thepurpose of rot-.king shaft 40 to disconnect the clutch, the said shaft is. provided with an arm 42. One end of a link 43 4is pivotally connected to the free end of arm 42. This link has on its lower edge a shoulder 44 which is arranged to be engaged by a finger 45 of a star wheel A'stud 47 carried by the worm gear 31 coacts with the star wheel to turn the latter intermittently in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 7.. The star-wheel has nine points, including the linger 45. As it requires three rotations of shaft 27 to cause one completev lap of the racing object, the provision'of nine points on the star wheel causes the latter to make one complete rotation While the racing object is traversing' three laps. As

suming, therefore, that the'link `43 is in the n position indicated bysolid lines in Fig. 9,

vthe shoulder 44 at such time being in the plane of the linger 45, the latter will strike the shoulder 44 when the racing object has completed three laps, and in consequencey of such engagement the rockshaft 40 will be' actuated to retract clutch member Con-l tinued rotation of shaft 30 will not be trans-l mitted to the racing oh'ect until the link 43 has been disengaged rom the linger 45, y

rod ism-ranged to slide up and down in a .fixed guide 49. 'A lever 50 is arranged to lift the rod 4S in consequence of dropping a coin in the coin chute hereinafter described.

' lhe lever 50 is mounted upon a fulcruin 51 and 1s provided with a plate 52 upon which the coins drop, the weight and momentum'` l of the coin being sufficient to lift the rod 48 so as to raise the link 43 to the position indicated by dotted vlines in Fig. 9. hen

Ythe link is'so lifted, the shoulder 4i is disi i engaged from finger .45, whereupon the weighted arm 4l drops to the positlon 1ndicated b v dotted lines, thereby swinging] Vthe arm 42 to the right until the clutch is connected. As soon as the coin drops from f the plate 52, the rod 48 and link 43 drop until the shoulder 44 rests upon the top of the finger When the 'finger 45 is re-A moved in consequence of operating the shaft 30a, vit ceases to support the link 43, whereupon the link and rod 48 drop t0 the posi- -i tions indicated in Fig. i) at 43* and 4S",

-which positionsare determined by guide 49` y r and a collar 49X affixed to 4S. The shoulder iljmis thus returned to the plane tra/versed by the finger 45, to be subsequently engaged and moved to the left by the finger When it Y has completed one rotation.

Duplicate coin chutes 53 are shown in Fig. G, and one of them is shown in Fig. 1.' Each chute rsisupported by a bar 55. Coins may be inserted into the upper ends of the f -chute through slots (not shown) in the race- Way lo.l The lower end of each chute regirse ` 4:isters with a coin-receiving opening7 61 inV a box o8, the corresponding lever 'being arranged in and supported by said box soA that Vthe coin entering through 6l vzi'll drop upon plate 52. The coin' eventually drops into a pan G in the box. The box has a door 59 which is provided with a lock G5, the bolt or which coacts with a. plate 66. The box rests upon a support 63 and its po sition in the cabinet C is determined by astop Gel which causes the fever 50 to regislifting rod may beprovided for the clutchA which drives A, to the end 'chata coin must be 'deposited in eacli of the ciiutes in order to render both or' the racing objects capable of participating in a race. l have contemplated aii'otlier arrangement, whereby both .driving clutches may be set in operation by the deposit of a single coin. Mechanism such as that shown by Figs. l and 5 issuitable for the latter purpose. ln these igures the links indicated at 43, 43 answer the saine purpose' as the link i3 shown in Figs. l, 7 and". 9. There is one di'erence, however, which is. that the shoulders sa 44h, which serve the sainepurpose as the shoulder del, are formed on the upper edge of the linlrs instead of on the lower e`dge',ne cessitating a downward movement of the free ends of the links in order to set the vclutches in operative position. The free end of link 43B extends loosely through a hole formed in a lever 67, and in like manner the free end of link 43h extends loosely through a hole-,formed in a lever 68. The ulcrurn or pivot of 67 is indicated at 69,' and that of 68 is indicated at 70, the said levers extending toward and overlapping each other andv being connected at 71 by any suitable connection, such as a. pin-und-slot connection, adapted to cause the, levers to operate in'unison. One of the levers, in the pres- `ent instance 67, is provided with a hole through which the upperend of the rodf is bookedflllie rod 72 is, to all intents and purposes, the equivalent of rod 4.8, and, v7hen combined with a lever such as that indicated at 50, will be vlifted bythe-deposit of a` coin in the manner hereinbeore explained. Upward movement Ward movement of the free vends oilinlns 43a and 43, the shoulders 4&5 and ed? being thereby `mov-edfsuiiiciently .to be disengaged 'be frein the starivlieeis with vvliioli'tbey enact.

of rod 72 causes ,darwin die driving clutches are connected, n'zcioion ci the operating member-sis trans 'Knitted `positively to tire respective racing; objects, and the speeds of the' racingob'g'ecs are determined by their respective operating; members. The racingobiect nbias. is the lrst to reach the finish line at tile completi of three (in the prent instance) laps. the rst to be disconnected lroin its ope-raf ing member; and the other racing obi may continue to travel until it reaches tn i'nish line after having completed frire laps, whereupon its clutch 'will be aut-oma cally disconnected. The racing ebjeets are thus left abreast of each other in fle- Sesired position for the 'start' o' tbfe next r Si claiinz l An apparatus o' the character scribed, comprising anv endless raceccurse, an obg'ect arranged to travese said cour n, operating member, ineensl arranged so traL mit motion roin said operating rnenibe drive said object along said course, Vineens arranged to act upon said tranc ying means 'automatically to disccnnec object from said operating member Y e idobject has traversed va predeter 'plurality of laps around said course.

2. An apparatus of the character descr" comprising a movable, object, an 'opere member, means arranged to transmi s. from said operating member to drivrl s object, and means driven byisaidpnerr member and arranged to adjust-said trau vInitting means automatically to disconn said object from said operating inem when said object has traveled a predeleie mined distance.'

'3. ln an apparatus of the character scribed, a racecourse, a Wheeled vehicle e ranged to roll upon said course, said veli having a svviveled steeringv truck, and :r arranged to lpull said vehicle, said mean ing connected to saidtruclr to turnl the laterally to steer the vehicle. i .w

il. An apparatus o the character descrr comprising; a movable object, anoper; member, means arranged to transmitan from said operating member to cause' in object to travel an endless course, said trans mission means including disconnectible cluclr l members, and means arranged to disccnr `v said clutch members when said objecitraversed a predetermined plurality, of l 'of said'course. i

5'. Anapparatus of the character descri comprising amovable object, an operatie member, means arranged to transmit met from said operating member to cause s object to travel an endless course, said ir including disconnectible clutch me and means driven by the driven clutch 'crinber arranged to. disconnect said clutch mein -bers when said object'lias traversed a 4preh determined plurality of laps of said courseV 6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable object, an operating membenmeans arranged to transmit motion from said operating member to cause said.

object to travel an endless course, said means including discoiinectible clutch members, intermittent 'gearing arranged to be di'iijen by said transmission means, and means arranged to be operated by said intermittent gearing to disconnect said clutch members -Wlien said object has traversed a predeternected, and ,means arranged to be actuated by said transmission means to disconnect lsaid clutch members against the force of said yielding means when said object has traversed a predetermined distance, said disconnect-ing means including ajtrip inember arranged to release said yielding means.

8. .-\.ii apparatus of the character described,

comprising a plurality of independently operable groups of mechanism each including a movable object, an operating "member,

said operating member to drive said' object, and means arranged to adJust said transmitting -means automatically to disconnect said object from said operating member, said disconnecting means including a trip member; and controlling means arranged to displace 3a means arranged tov transmit motion from the several trip members to connect saidz l gbg'ects with their respective operating mem# ers. -v In testimony whereof I have'aixed my signature, in' presence of two witnesses.

' FREDE -UCKl J. RIORDAN. \Vit nesses:

FRANK H. VWooncoci7 W.- P. ABELL. 

